For this installment of my Chief’s Corner, I would like to provide an update on current crime statistics in our community. As John Adams once said, facts are stubborn things. Yet even when crime stats show low numbers, individual perceptions of safety may be different, especially for those who are victims of crime. And as I have discussed before, when people hear of incidents through social media, it often magnifies the perception of a “crime problem.”
I have compiled stats on many of the major crime categories for a year-over-year comparison from 2018 to 2019 (for the period of January through October). You will find that our numbers in several categories have actually decreased, yet our calls for service have increased and the types of calls are more time consuming. Although our numbers for robbery and burglary are higher, we’ve also seen our proactive policing efforts pay off, with a significant increase in the number of warrant arrests we’ve made.
As has been the case for many years, our highest crime rate involves vehicle prowls. This is an area where we are working hard to inform people about what they can do to decrease their risk of being a victim. Download our brochure on preventing vehicle prowls now to learn more. If you have nice things in your vehicle, you are inviting trouble. So…when in doubt, take it out.
As more and more people discover all the great shopping and activities our city offers, it puts a greater demand on our public safety services and can sometimes create more opportunities for crime. Yet we remain committed to maintaining U.P.’s reputation as a safe, welcoming city and a great Place to live for our 33,000 citizens.
If you have any questions about our crime stats—including data on our last four years if you’d like to dig into more detail—please feel free to contact me directly. I’m happy to dispel misconceptions and discuss ways we can work together to keep our community safe.
Larry King says
Chief Premo,
Thank you for the good information. My wife and I are longtime UP residents, and are interested in every thing that can protect life and property. I will download the brochure on car prowls and we will learn from it. Thank you and your officers for protecting our community.
Larry and Sandy King
T says
I don’t see where this chart is anything to brag about! Don’t tell the community how the amount of crime we have is “doing just fine”. Really? I don’t fault the police force however you can only “count” the ones you “catch”. That doesn’t mean if they haven’t yet been counted that they just aren’t out there committing crimes. The last thing we need is a false sense of “security”. It’s getting worse here and you know it. You can see it driving around the area. Talk to the businesses and ask them why they have to keep one entry door locked up during the evening hours. Fred Meyer, Safeway, ARCO…yes, Gas stations also. Shopping in Green Firs is dangerous especially at night. So is the area at 19th & Mildred towards UP. 911 doesn’t even respond to a store managers call when customers have been threatened in their store. Take your head out of the sand…the more people our City Council insists on enticing to come here by building, building and more building – well it’s not going to “get better” as far as crime is concerned. Their real estate investments will get better though. I would like to see and hear this matter is being taken seriously. This area is changing and the powers that be aren’t going to be able to keep up with it if they don’t or won’t see it coming.